davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21
Finley & Brewer.
ONE OF TIE OLDEST ESTABLISHED
GENERAL MERCHANDISE HOUSES
IN THE CITY.

Eight years ago last February r. J.
Finley arrived in this city from Nor
witch, Conn.,, and opened up a general
merchandise store at No - Broadway.
At that time his place of business was
the last one on the street, and was con-
sidered Way up town, somewhat diff
ferent than at the present writing.
One month after Mr.. Finley's arri-
val, J. f. Brewer, then Il green boy of
sixteen, came OH from the rural dis
tricts of Franklin county, Pa. and
was engaged as clerk. During the
past eight years, he served his en-
plOyer's interests 50 faithfully. and his
services proved SO inTalual lie. that at
the first of the present month he was
admitted into partnership. the firm
name now being Finley & Brewer.
Mr.. Finley was the pioneer in the
seed potato business. and can fairly be
sal! to have revolutiOnized this part of
the country in that respect. His thor
Ough knowledge Of potatoes enables
him to sell to his thousands of custom
ers the very best varieties, and to
show how thoroughly his efforts were
to raise the quality Of that
article, it need only be
said that tOw carloads were sold this
spring by him. Mr.. Brewer has also a
thorough knowledge of this special
branch of their business, and can in
diligently attend to the wants of all |
who may call.
The firm is possessed of gOOdly /
share of the patronage of the city and .
county people, which we hope they
may long enjoy.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21
Our Crops.
CORN SIXTEEN FEET HIGH AND MEL
ONS SIXTY POUNDS WEIGHT,
ONLY A STARTER"

Our crops when taken in comparison
with those of other states, are in excel
lent condition, and will give a larger
yield than was anticipated during the
hot dry months of the summer. Life
giving rain visited the state and re-
vlved the crops and with them the
spirits Of the farmers. The state has
not been visited by any destructive
storms, and if we finish the season as
we'll as we have progressed so far, Kan
sas will be the fortunate state in the
west. The past two years has opened
tlic eyes of the people of this country
to the possibilities of Kansas, and her
freedom from the cataStrOphes which
visited other states, plainly demon
strate that it is desirable state to live
in. There is probably no state in the
Union that has been more systematic
cally lied about and misrepresented
than Kansas, and an eastern man COM
ing to our state opens his eyes with
establishment at the highly cultured
civilization with all the attendant i'm
prOvements, that meet his eye on every
hand. This misrepresentation, how
ever, is fast giving away to more &C
curate knowledge and thorough appre-
citation of the greatness of the state,
and Kansas by her progress is attract
ing the attention of the entire world.
People are beginning to realize that the
great American desert is in reality a
thriving, prosperous and productive
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21
Westward
THE TIDE OF IMMIGRATION ROLLS
WITH ABILENE AND DICKINSON
COUNTY THE GRAND OBJ
JECTIVE POINTS.

The immigration to Kansas this year
promises to greatly exceed that of any
previous one. 1t may be Il matter of
wonder with many eastern people who
are unacquainted with the many adj
vantageS of our state why this is So
1t is to enlighten them that this article
is indited.
One great reason why people desire
to settle in Kansas is the wonderful
fertility of the soil, and the ease with
which it is titled The many first
prizes taken on the products of our
state at the centennial exhibition and
the New Orleans exposition, are fair
evidences of the prOductiveness of this
farmer paradise. Kansans pride them
selves upon their many fine farms,
which are adorned with grand residen-
ces and good substantial barns, the
stalls and yards of which latter are
filled with only pure-blooded stock, and
the bins of which are filled with the
golden grain of the recent harvest.
The stranger is enchanted when he
seats himself at the table of the aver
age Kansas farmer and partakes of a
meal such as king might boast of,
and when he is asked to sample the
farmers cider and MUNICH the luscious
fruits that are pressed upon him with
such great hospitality, he can no longer
restrain his feelings, but gives vent to
an exclamation of surprise which we
is something like this: HAS
this state accomplished in one genera
ton what it took Ohio or Pennsyl-
vania to accomplish in three ~
We will imagine that this stranger
takes ride through the country on a
tour of sightseeing. After noting the |
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

spirit of the new life and prosperity
that will be ushered in with early
spring.
Every county is beginning to be
called upon to divide its unimproved
land with the host of home seekers
from the eastern states, who have heard
of the wonderful fertility of our soil,
the mild winters, the balmy air and
sunshine that spreads itself over Kan
sas with such loving tenderness.
The real estate agent pricks up his
ears and scents the smoke of battle
from afar, and loads up his books with
rare bargains. The railroad men bring
out the old cars, paint them up, and
send forth the festive home hunter
in countless numbers. He is taken in
hand and shown the country over and
buys the pattern for the home for his
wife and babies.
All this has now begun and will in
crease every day until the million and a
half citizens of Kansas to-day, will be
increased by the advent of their friends,
until their number will be two millions,
and that by the merry Christmas time.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21
G. F. Worley.
HARNESS, SADDLERY AND HORSE
GOODS GENERALLY-IN THE WOR-
LEY BLOCK, CORNER OF
THIRD AND CEDAR.

G.. F. Worley came to Abilene in
1876, and for three years worked at his
old trade, the harness business, in the
old frame building which is now re-
placed by the handsome WOrley block.
In 1879 he started in business for him
self, and worked up large and proita-
BILE trade, so much so that few
months ago he erected the handsome
three story brick block, the ground
floor of which he now occupies for his
business. lie also invested profitably
in other real estate. Mr.. Worley is a
shrewd, careful business man, and is
among our most respected and popular
young townsmen. We predict for him
a bright future, and one which is more
satisfactory to him than the ordinary
human being, for he is in every respect
a self-made man, and an Abilene self
made man at that.
His store is admirably adapted to his
line of business. There are two en-
frances, one on Cedar, the other on
Third. A large stock of harness, sad
dlery and horse goods of every descrip-
ton is carried, and comprises the most
complete stock of the kind in this part
of the state. All repairing is promptly
attended to, and in a workmanlike
manner.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21
T. C. McInerney.
DEALER IN BOOTS AND SHOES, AND
HIDES AND TALLOW-ESTAB-
LISTED IN ABILENE. 1868.

Twenty years ago Abilene was little
more than a bowling wilderness, and
was the paradise Of the gay and festive
cowboy. 1t was then that the subject
of this sketch appeared upon the scene
having the foresight to see that in a
few years the shipping point for Texas
cattle would change into a lively, bust
ling city. He first located on Texas
street, south Abilene. and continued
business there for five years, after
which he moved to what is now the
corner of Broadway and Third streets.
and occupied a fra ne building. His
business continued TO grow and pros
per, and in 1884 he built the subsran-
tial brick block, which now stands in
place of the old store. Mir. McIner-
ney's store faces OH Third street, and
contains an endless line Ct boots and
shoes. for the rich and for the poor
for the stylish and severe. He has a
large trade, and what speaks well for
his goods and prices, is that fair pro-
portion of his customers are those of
many years standing. In hides and
tallow he also yearly transacts a large
and paving business.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

the agent turns the team hOmeward
and, while he plies the whip, tells the
man-from-the-east' he has not seen
such blizzard before since eighteen
hundred and freeZe-up-tight'' when he
was Oh buffalo hunt. ETC., etc. And
when in the''spring-time gentle Annie ,
the ranch-all-winter cattle lie down in
the streams and die, starved down too
weak to crawl out and live, the cattle
man is ready with neutrality-suspicious.
that has got into the herd, but adds:
Cattle pay mighty well when luck is
good" In good seasons when the
losses are light and the stronger cattle
come through in good shape, the profits
arc very large, and every one is told how
| we'll the cattlemen have dOne;but when
the heavy and sometimes total losses of
bad, hard winters come, whole herds
sometimes perShing among the noun
tain ranges, very little is said-it is
kept very still. We think out very lit
tie of the truth will be generally told
of last winters heavy losses on tie
range. The winter of 1856 was the
seyerest winter here in Kansas known
i'm the memory of man. Almost three
months of solid winter and the mercury
twice down to Il degrees below zero.
Such was never known here before.
The mild, almost snOwless winters of
Kansas are not mere tradition or a
land agents tale, but they are not en-
tlrely trustworthy to depend upon max
ing investments. The prudent and the
humane man will provide food and
shelter for his stock. They will not
need much as far north, but when
''they do want it, they want it mighty
bad
So while we do not know of any other
business that will survive so much
Encouragement and still give final
profits as the cattle business, neither
do we know of any that will make bet
ter returns for good management. Here
in Central Kansas it is the best stan
dard business we have ever seen. With
good shelter, good feed and care and a
good grade of stock our cattle feeders
are coming money unmindful of
''strikes" and suspension" in the
east and unworried by the ''storm loss
es'' of the range in the west. In good
times our feeders make more money
than the western rangers" and have
none of their losses when bad winters
come. Their profits are almost in
credible under the best management.
The future of the intelligent cattle
feeder of central Kansas is one of pros
porous wealth.
The man who now puts five, ten or
twenty thousand dollars in a good feed
irg farm, with good high grade or
thorough red stock, shelters well and
feeds generously, will soon be prince
among his fellows-"a Kansas King"
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

finest of family groceries. In this de
partment they take the lead in vari.
ETY., the stock including as it does
canned and bottled goods of every de-
scription, the best teas and coffees
evapOrated fruits of all kinds. dried
and smoked meats, fresh fruits and
vegetables, gilt-edge butter, etc, etc.
1t fairly makes one hungry to look
around. The queensware department
includes all modern and unique de-
signs in glassware, table ware, toilet
sets, chamber sets, etc.
The store is one of the most COM
plete and well stocked of its kind in
the state, and we are pleased to learn
that the firms patronage is daily
growing larger and larger.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21
Suffer Bros.
THE NEW JEWELRY STORE TO OPEN
TO THE PUBLIC ON THE FIRST
OF JUNE.

The elegant new brick block now in
course of construction on the corner of
Second and Broadway, will be complet-
ed and ready for occupancy by the
first of June. Among the tenants will
be Suffer Bros, who will open up a
fine jewelry store, and keep on hand
watches, clocks. silverware, diamonds,
and in fact, everything that goes to-
wards making up first-class establish
ment.
The firm will be composed of Emil
and Ed. Suffer, the former now in the
jewelry business at Russell, and the
latter well and favOrably known for
several years past as the practical jew
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21
REAL ESTATE. LOANS, INSURANCE
AND ABSTRACTS.
GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACoRNs
GROW"
THE LEADING FIRM IN THEIR LINE
OF BUSINESS IN DICKINSON
COUNTY.
A STEADY. STURDY, PROSPEROUS
ENERGY. ACTIVITY. SHREwD-
NESS AND POPULARITY OF
THE FIRMS HEAD. COL
ONEL J. Ii. BRADY.

In 1875, real estate Office was
opened in the neighbOring town of
Enterprise, by Il young man named
J. ii. Brady. He quickly made him.
self known to the citizens of that
town as ''rustler' of the first water.
Through his untiring efforts and rest
less energy, he firmly established him
self as leading man Of the place. and
on sound business basis. His trans
actions steadily increased in number.
and covered so large territory that Il
removal to Il more central location was
rendered imperative. Accordingly.
in 1885. he removed to Abilene.
Opening up in the post-Office block.
he took into partnership George Mer-
rill, one of our most highly respected
tOwnSmen and business men, the firm
name being j. III. Brady & Co. The
business of the firm still continued to
increase, and larger quarters were
taken. the entire ground floor of the
old Henry Office being rented. The
various rooms were fitted up in neat
style, and an increased force en-
plOyed to take charge of the immense
business in the various departments.
We hardly deem it out of place in
this connection to devote a few lines
to Colonel Brady, as he is known by
his numerous friends. Through his
own efforts he has risen, round by
round, from Obscurity and penury. to
popularity and affiuence, and to-day
stands at the top of the ladder, and is
known far and wide as one of the
leading men of Abilene and Dickin-
son county. BY nature he is genial
and good hearted to a fault, and any
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

one in distress never applied to him in
vain for relief OF assistance. He does
not occupy himself with the details of
the business, but is always on the go,
the result of which is that big deals
are of almost daily occurrence, the
corps of clerks being busily occupied
to keep up with him.
AS an instance of the large scale
upon which transactions are often
made, we would quote a 81, ZOO acre
sale to Kentucky land company, and
another of 81 900 acres to the Virginia
and Kansas land company. They
have bought and sold more land than
any other real estate concern in the
country. Much of the property on
their lists is owned by them, prOmi-
nent among which is the famous Brady
ranch, adjoining Solomon City, and
comprising 1850 acres. They also
own thirteen fine farms in various
parts of the county, and business and
residence property in Enterprise, Solo
mon and this city.
Now let us turn our attention to the
office force: The abstracter is G.. c.
Anderson, and he has at his fingers
ends the most complete set of abstracts
in the county.
Miss Minnie Brady, sister of the
colonel, is the book-keeper, and under
her efficient management they are ac-
curate and reliable.
]. r. Dovel has charge of the lands.
and general supervision of the vari-
Gus properties. He is usually on the
jump, but always finds time to be
courteous and accommodating.
NJ. W. Brady is cousin of the head
of the firm, and acts as his private Sec
rotary. He is a recent graduate of
the Lawrence Business College, and
much arduous work is disposed of by
him.
The insurance department is under
the management of III. p. Seeds.
None but good companies are repre-
scented. The firm does large bus
mess in this line.
George Merrill, the junior partner.
has general supervision of the Office.
and all detailed work, and is the right
man in the right place, having thor
ough understanding of the entire bus
mess, gained by many years expert
ence. All callers to the firms head.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21
The Novelty Carriage Works
OF WIN. f. GLEIssNER, CORNER OF
BUCKEYE AVENUE AND FOURTH
STREET.

The Novelty Carriage Works is tie
best equipped repairing shop in this
part of the state. w. E. Gleissner, the
proprietor, is one of our best known
young men, is honest and industrious,
and has built up for himself large and
profitable business. AS painter and
trimmer, he has no equal, having had
ten years experience in his line. Ex-
perienced men only are employed in the
various departments, and all work
turned out by them can be relied upon
as first class in every and all respects.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

of Third and Buckeye. This location
in turn proved too small for his rap
idly growing business, and in order to
be possessed of increased room and
facilities for carrying large stock, he
has just opened up in the handsome
and commodious quarters now occu-
pied by him, and where is displayed a
IS 900 stock of wall paper and window
shades.
Mr.. Hornaday has been practical
decorator for fourteen years past. He
has a natural gift for his art, which,
combined with his long experience, en-
ables him to select such styles and de
signs as viii harmonic perfectly. His
wall papers include ali of the latest
modern art patterns. He arranges his
own designs, and as to the quality and
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

beauty of the many farm houses he has
passed, his attention is attracted to the
neat and roOmy building, which, if it
were in city. might easily be mis-
taken for church. This, he is in
formed, is the district school house,
and he learns upon questioning further
that it is also used for church purposes
on Sunday, and that religious services
are held there regularly. These houses
he passed at intervals of about three
miles. He writes in his note book that
the educational facilities of Kansas are
on par with those of Massachusetts,
which latter state, it is claimed, is the
leading state in educational matters in
the union. At last this stranger ar
rived in a city in the midst of a broad
fertile valley. He observes with I'M
suppressed enthusiasm the broad streets,
lighted with the Edison Incandescent;
the fine business blocks; the churches,
with their spires reaching heavenward;
the grand school buildings; the excel
lent system of waterworks, the busy
whir of the machinery of the Touring
mills, which run night and day; the
many elevators and the ease with which
they are operated; the telephone ex
change; the fine opera house; the build
ing going on on all sides, and the evil
dences of thrift and PROSPERITY every
where. When he is informed that not
two decades ago the buffalo ranged in
this same valley, his enthusiasm knows
no bounds, and he Immediately seeks a
real estate agent, buys a corner lot,
and lets contract for the erection of
three-story brick building, and writes
to his friends in the east to come to the
queen city of Kansas
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21
Kansas Winters.
AS A GENERAL THING, OPEN, MILD,
AND HIGHLY CONDUCIVE TO
STOCK RAISING.

On the ranches, in the farther west,
a favorite theme with land agents and
cattle men is to write and talk about
their mild, warm winters and carry
ing cattle over the ranch without hay
or corn, and the large, clear profits
therefrom; and then when the blizzard
comes sweeping down from the icy
north and catches the land agent with
only his spring overcoat on. showing
"a ranch" to the 'cOnfiding man from
the east or south has no OuercOdt on,
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

Illinois has contributed Ia, 7O3 of her
best citizens to make Kansas blossom
as a rose. Ohio has sent to US liz, 800,
and 10O,271 fled from Indiana to this
fertile land. Missouri, Pennsylvania,
Iowa, each gave us many thousands,
and New York and Kentucky each
furnished over $4,000 settlers, and
nearly every state has contributed to
make up our progressive population.
Germany sent us 80, 159 of her freedom
loving people, from England and Wales
there came 1893, from Sweden and
Norway, $4,000; from Ireland, 1892 !;
from Canada, II 1897, and several thous-
and came from other countries who
thirsted for freedom. No other state
In the world has a more enterprisiDg,
independent population, as their works
and purposes demonstrate.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

There is Kansas, the great corn state
of the west. What is she doing while
all the eastern states are mourning
over wasted energies and depleted bus
mess? She has received within her
borders and provided with homes in the
last twelve months over two hundred
thousand strangers who will help de-
velop her resources. She has built an
almost fabulous number of miles of
railroad on an immense strip of hereto
fore desert country and made it to yield
the staple of life. She has raised good
grain crops in admittedly dry weather
She has done all this and made money
too. This is prosperity of the right
stamp. 1t is real and substantial, and
a basis of argument for future con-
CITY Times.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

The room is large, commOdiOus and
finely furnished, and in the evening is
well lighted by the Edison incandes-
cent. Several wOrkmen are employed,
each and every one an artist, and with
the genial proprietor at the head,
cause their customers very little in
convenience waiting for the cry of
''neXt gentleman"
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

Kansas is becoming the most popu-
lous and wealthy state in the union,
and is destined to be the seat of our
greatest enterprise. He who does not
see this is blind to the waves of prom
Use that start at the Atlantic and Pa
cific and meet to dispense their favors
in Kansas. The day of greatest taings
for our state is just dawning.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

superiority of his work, evidence can
be shown by looking at the wall and
ceiling decorations of the Abilene Real
Estate cOmpany's office, the Citizens
Bank, and other handsome interior:
about the city. We recommend him
to our readers as thorough artist. and
gentleman as well. All orders left
with him will be filled promptly, salts
factOrily and at reasonable prices.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

On March eth, of the present year,
Brumm & Volkman opened their doors
to the public, in the large and well
lighted store on the corner of Buck
eye Avenue and Third street, in the
Kirby block. Upon entering one is
struck with the air of neatness which
pervades the establishment. On count
ers and shelves, and in the spacious
show windows. are displayed the
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

Kansas is the central state in the
union; the state lies in the immediate
path of the modern and great national
highways of steel. Kansas is the inter-
oceanic state pre-eminent, of America,
considered with reference either to the
Atlantic and Pacific seas, or the Lakes
on the north and the Gulfon the south.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

quarters are courteously treated and
made welcome by him. He also takes
charge of the loans.
To our eastern readers who are SEN
sible and want TO come to Kansas
where they are sure to prosper, or to
eastern capitalists who wish to secure
the best investments, We would cOrdi-
ally recommend J. III. Brady & Co. to
them as the leading real estate firm of
Central Kansas.
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-21

state, and that where barren prairies
were supposed to exist, fields of name
moth corn are growing. Where corn
grows sixteen feet high and the melons
weigh so pounds, there must be richness
and moisture in the soil. DrouthY
Kansas no longer exists.-IRrestor's
Guide.